opt
verb (used without object)
to make a choice; choose (usually followed byfor ).
opt
1 American
[opt]
/ ɒpt /
verb (used without object)
-
opts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
opted,
past participle, past
-
opting
present participle
verb phrase
-
opt in to decide to make use of or take part in something.
To receive automatic updates, opt in under the email notification section.
-
opt out to decide to withdraw from or not take part in something.
You can opt out of the pension plan, but you lose the employer and government contribution.
opt.
2
American
abbreviation
-
optative.
-
optical.
-
optician.
-
optics.
-
optional.
opt
British
/ ɒpt /
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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optsimple
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optssimple
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have optedperfect
-
has optedperfect
-
am optingprogressive
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are optingprogressive
-
is optingprogressive
-
have been optingperfect progressive
-
has been optingperfect progressive
Past
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optedsimple
-
had optedperfect
-
was optingprogressive
-
were optingprogressive
-
had been optingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of opt
First recorded in 1875–80; from French opter “to choose, divide,” from Latin optāre “to wish for, desire, pray for, choose, select”
Explanation
To opt is to choose. Given the alternative, most kids will opt for a cupcake over a ham sandwich. When you're signing up for next semester's classes, you might opt for another history class, or instead opt for advanced biology. Whenever you have more than one alternative, you have the chance to opt for something. You can also opt out of something, or choose not to do it at all. Opt comes from the French verb opter, "to choose," from the Latin root optare, "desire," and it's related to option.
Vocabulary lists containing opt
Persepolis
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This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for October 24–30, 2020
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Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Overall, however, he is confident he will have enough to retire on at the end of his "30-40" year career and is determined to opt back in to his pension as soon as he can.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
A poll by Survation in June found that 55 percent of voters would opt to rejoin if a referendum was held again.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
But agents can only access funds in those dedicated accounts, and users can opt to manually approve each trade.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Though the couple’s home base will remain in Texas, they could opt for a rental in Indianapolis during the NFL season, much as they did in Chicago while Owens was playing for the Chicago Bears.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
Many crows opt for sounds they’re fond of making.
From "Wishtree" by Katherine Applegate
Spenser. dim. diminutive. opp. opposed. subj. subjunctive. dub. doubtful. opt. optics. suff. suffix. eccles. ecclesiastical history. orig. originally. superl. superlative. e.g. for example. ornith. ornithology. surg. surgery. elect. electricity.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
Although this latter edition be called the edit. opt. it will be evident that the editio originalis is yet a desideratum in every bibliographical collection.
From Bibliomania; or Book-Madness A Bibliographical Romance by Thomas Frognall Dibdin
Rhei opt. aa. ℈i. ol. junip. gutt. xvi. syr. bals. q. s. f. mass. in pil. xxiv. divid.
From An Account of the Foxglove and some of its Medical Uses With Practical Remarks on Dropsy and Other Diseases by William Withering
Whether an artist opts out depends on who owns the rights.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
If Riyadh opts to respond decisively—not just symbolically, which would leave de-escalation on the table—then Saudi leadership must decide what that means.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
While quarterly rebalancing changes are always expected to be announced on the first Friday of the last month of the quarter, it’s worth noting that the index committee sometimes opts against making any changes.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026
By contrast, the Daily Mail opts for a much simpler single-word headline "Inferno" across a picture of burning houses in the West Midlands.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
I can almost see the million thoughts spinning behind her eyes, but she opts to sign, “What is that? It doesn’t look like anything I’ve seen before.”
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Similar feelings linger for another controversial maneuver, in which Koch opted to replace the vessel’s tactician, J.J.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
About 10.3% of home buyers who applied for a mortgage in the week ending Sept. 25 opted for an ARM, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association trade group.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
Instead of wooden houses and hotels, WS Game opted for green and red injection-molded properties, which Cartamundi produces in the millions for standard versions of Monopoly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
The FAI voted earlier this year to play the matches, having been concerned about potential sanctions, including fines and expulsions from competitions, if it had opted to boycott.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
Knowing that the immense energies available to Lawrence via the cyclotron were hopelessly out of reach of their equipment, they opted for lower energies but a higher proton current—less power but more particles.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Even those with insurance are increasingly opting for high deductibles because costs for insurance premiums are so high.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
I found that young investors are more conservative than you might expect, and many Gen Z-ers are opting for exchange-traded funds over sports bets.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
It seems like McKinley wants to deliver a crushing blow, but then feints at the last minute, opting for a more optimistic kind of fantasy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
Last autumn scrum-half Alex Mitchell said he and others had prioritised the togetherness, external and quality of Saints' squad over "mega money" elsewhere when opting to re-sign.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
Suddenly he charged, opting for a rapid assault this time.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
